Stay At Home Q&A: TenEighty Team

We’ve been speaking to creators to ask how they have been keeping themselves entertained at home recently. So, to celebrate TenEighty’s sixth birthday, we asked members of the team how they are spending their time…

How are you spending your time while social distancing?

Liam O’Dell, Industry Editor: As a theatre nerd, I am keeping myself entertained with all the shows which have moved online over the past few weeks. The National Theatre at Home livestreams have now become a regular occurrence for me every Thursday evening.

Hannah-Marie Clarke, Writer: I recently rediscovered my love for painting and drawing, which I haven’t really done since school, so that’s been a fun way to pass the time.

Pagen Hall, Writer: Apart from the never ending lists of assignments from university, I’m mainly reading and binge watching old Disney Channel shows. I’m not ashamed to say I cried three times watching all the Hannah Montana episodes.

Lucy Cooksley, Editorial Coordinator: Currently, I am finishing the second year of my degree from home so there are a lot of Zoom calls and lectures taking place in my house. In my family we have also been taking it in turns to cook meals from a different country each night, call it a mock Come Dine With Me.

Amelia Ramage, Writer: Australia is only allowing essential movement but the government is looking to ease these restrictions in the upcoming week or two. I’ve been spending time adapting to doing uni online as well as enjoying time with my family. My girlfriend and I have been improving on our cocktail-making abilities. I’d like to think I’ve perfected my mojito recipe which I will no doubt be sharing with friends after social distancing is relaxed.

Conor Brummel, Writer: Trying to relax! It is not often that you get a chance to just chill out and have mostly no responsibilities. I am doing a lot of writing, reading and I have picked back up my guitar after a couple of months of neglecting it. As the weather gets better, I am sitting out in the garden more getting some much-needed vitamin D.

I can't remember what it feels like to have a sleeping pattern

— Conor Brummell (@ConorBrummell) April 30, 2020

What is your go-to activity when you need to switch off from the world?

Bob Leak, Writer: Eating snacks and blasting my favourite music or rewatching Peep Show for the hundredth time.

Conor: Watching movies or TV shows. There is so much negativity online at the best times, but recently everything seems really grim. I’ve found that logging off for a while and binge-watching TV has really helped me switched off from the news, as I wasn’t much of a TV person before lock-down!

Izzy Hunter, Writer: Reading 100%. I’ve just finished my third book of self-isolation and it’s helped when I’m feeling overwhelmed with the news, and gives me a break from a screen.

Amelia: I’ve recently re-downloaded The Sims, which is a perfect way for me to completely forget about anything else and get lost in my computerised family. It’s been great falling back into the stuff my 13-year-old self loved!

Hannah-Marie: I have no shame whatsoever in saying TikTok. Some people like to read, others like to watch films. I like to watch people dye their hair or old people try to learn the renegade.

i’m gonna learn a bunch of tiktok dances and become the emo charli d’amelio

— 𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔫𝔞𝔥 (@hantheloser) April 29, 2020

Do you have any tips for staying positive and healthy at home?

Kelly Anne, Writer: I have found that I can cope easier by keeping my mind busy and distracted. Keeping contact with family and friends has been a huge help also.

Rob Collingridge, Social Media Editor: One of the biggest problems I’m having is a lack of structure and time blending into one big amorphous mass, so that’s something I’ve been focusing on. For example, when I’m done with work, I’ll pack my laptop back into the bag and put everything away. Then I’ll go on my daily walk, helping mark the end of the work day and the start of my free time.

Conor: Try some mindfulness, listen to some soothing music or listen to your favourite podcast when you feel yourself getting stressed and remember that it is okay to feel bad once in a while – you don’t need to be productive during the pandemic.

Izzy: I’ve been going on more walks with my family and cycle rides for the first time in
years! Being in nature is so helpful for that daily boost of positivity.

Pagen: It sounds dumb but just accepting the situation has really helped me. Lockdown for another month? Okay. Not much I can do to fight that. Might as well do the best I can with the time that I’ve got. I bought a children’s colouring book of Disney characters the other day. Adult colouring books are too fiddly and I get agitated. I’d rather colour in Mulan’s dress and stick some stickers on it too. Sorry, what was the question?

You bet I just bought an amazing jumpsuit from boohoo and I’ve decided it’ll be my “free from quarantine” outfit 😁

— Pagen Hall (@pagenhall) April 28, 2020

Can you recommend something we can do to relax at home?

Liam: I’m finding Gogglebox to be the perfect show to watch right now. A show about other people reacting to popular TV shows is surprisingly cathartic in a time where most of the UK is doing pretty much the same.

Hannah-Marie: My boyfriend and I are both quarantined away from each other and so finding things to do together has been really important. We’ve found a few apps that have a multiplayer mode, like 8 Ball Pool, Golf Battle and Mario Kart. There’s also a knock-off Cards Against Humanity, which is cool to play in a group.

Pagen: I will scream about this TV Series until the cows comes home. Watch One Day At A Time on Netflix! If you want a TV show that has every representation under the sun, honestly its amazing. You will laugh and sob all in the same episode.

Amelia: We’re being blessed with new projects from Charli XCX, who is releasing music entirely made in quarantine.

Lucy: Currently I’ve been devouring all the content on Disney+ and catching up with any movies I may have missed in the cinemas. However, I’ve also been watching Tiger King on Netflix alongside the new series of After Life.

I’ve just sat and wrote a 35 question quiz in order to entertain my friends tonight, the absolute peak of my week already at 3pm on a Monday

— Luce (@Its_Luce_x) April 6, 2020

Why is it so important to follow the government guidance?

Liam: By not following the Government guidance, a person who may not show symptoms has the potential to cause a chain reaction, whereby someone gets seriously ill simply because they chose to go outside and break the rules.

Bob: Finally, a good use of my biology degree! By not going out unless necessary you will reduce the likelihood of you spreading, and even getting, Coronavirus. This not only protects the vulnerable but also means less people get sick making sure hospitals are not overrun and flattening the curve.

Pagen: Hi. Yes. We want this to end someday. Don’t be the idiot who ruins it for everyone by spreading this disease to every person you know. Don’t be the reason someones family member falls badly ill. Just don’t be selfish.

Lucy: I think the current situation has taught many people how the most mundane daily things can be taken for granted. So if we want to be able to return to as much of a normal life as possible, it is important to follow the guidelines.

Rob: You are not smarter, stronger or luckier than anyone else when it comes to Coronavirus, and it will take everyone doing their bit to get back to normal.

My biggest personal achievement in lockdown is getting to the point where oat milk just tastes like milk to me now

— Rob Collingridge (@rcollingridge_) April 16, 2020

What advice would you give to anyone who might be struggling at the moment?

Bob: It’s rough right now and completely reasonable if you’re struggling. Try and be kind to yourself. If you can take a break, even just laying in a bath or eating your favourite food and watch a show you love, you’ll feel a lot better.

Hannah-Marie: For the first few weeks I felt surprisingly fine, and then it seemed to hit me all at once. Although we are all physically isolated from one another, we’re so fortunate to live in a world where we can call, message or video chat anyone at any time, so utilise that!

Conor: Breathe! I was really stressed out at the beginning of lockdown in Ireland and I was scared I was going to be at home with nothing to do for months. However, I’ve taken to writing more, and injecting more time into my hobbies that I’ve neglected due to college work. Try to do something that makes you happy, be it reading, watching YouTube, doing Yoga or baking. The world is your oyster as long as it is keeping within Government guidelines.

Amelia: It’s not a shameful thing to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or unmotivated, and having ways to deal with these feelings may ease your mental state. Also, if there are people in your life that make you happy, make an effort to interact with them even if it’s in a small way.

Rob: Give yourself permission to feel bad about all this. This isn’t a normal time and you can’t expect yourself to feel normal at the moment. The guilt, stress and pressure of trying to be productive or upbeat all the time through this isn’t something any of us need.

Izzy: Just remember, this isn’t going to last forever. Soon we will be able to look back on this time as a distant memory.

can we all have a mass game on club penguin in self isolation thx xx

— izzy💔 (@B0YSLIKEYOU) March 16, 2020

Which creators content are you particularly enjoying at the moment?

Lucy: I am loving the travel vloggers Flying the Nest on YouTube at the moment. Due to the recent circumstances, their past videos provide a lot of escapism. I totally recommend their channel if you fancy a cosy Sunday afternoon escaping to another country through the screen.

Izzy: I’m enjoying Eve Cornwell’s content, always keeping me motivated and inspired. Also, dodie’s ALOSIA music!

Rob: The Bon Appétit YouTube channel. They’ve got a great back catalogue of cooking content I’ve been learning from, plus they’ve been super open about how their business is having to change in a way that feels honest, authentic and relatable. I can’t recommend it enough.

Kelly: I have been loving Carrie Hope Fletcher’s TikTok videos recently, as well as her Good Morning, World series with Oliver Ormson.

Answers collated by Leanne, People Leader at TenEighty.

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Stay At Home Q&A: TenEighty Team

We’ve been speaking to creators to ask how they have been keeping themselves entertained at home recently. So, to celebrate TenEighty’s sixth birthday, we asked members of the team how they are spending their time…

Want more?

Published 2 May 2020.

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